Jets vs. Dolphins: Preview, score prediction for Week 7
New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins
For the second-straight week, the New York Jets will be taking on a division rival, the Miami Dolphins. This game will go a long way in deciding the AFC East champion by season’s end, because the Jets already have a win against the Dolphins, and a loss to the Jets will put the Dolphins behind the eight-ball.
Coming into Week 7 the AFC East is the only division in the NFL with zero teams below the .500 mark. So, the Dolphins can’t afford to fall to 3-3 with an 0-2 record against the AFC East. Likewise, the Jets can’t afford to fall to 1-3 against the AFC East with a gaming looming against the Bills on Thursday Night Football in Week 9 and a gaming looming at the end of the season in New England.
So, will things play out as they did the first time these two teams met this season?
Key to Victory
Football is the ultimate team game, but in this particular game, the performance of one player will determine the outcome of this game. Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi will have to step up and be a big-time player for the Dolphins to win, but if the Jets can stop him, they will win.
The Dolphins are 3-2, and in their two losses, Ajayi has averaged 12 carries at 2.6 yards per carry with Jay Cultler averaged 36 pass attempts. In the three wins Ajayi averages 26 carries with 4.2 yards per carry and Cutler averaged 30 pass attempts. If the Jets stop Ajayi and force Cutler to pass, they will come out victorious.
Betting Odds
Point Spread: Miami -3
Moneyline: Miami -175, New York +155
Over/Under: 38
Odds via Sportsbook Review
Prediction
There are a couple of key things at play coming into this game. Despite what they say, there’s no way the Jets don’t feel like they got hosed by the officials in the game against the Patriots. They may have “moved on to the Dolphins” in their preparation. But in the back of their minds, there’s anger that the players on the field didn’t fully play a role in the outcome. The other thing in play is the last drive from Week 2.
Next: NFL 2017: 20 Bold predictions for Week 7
With 2:15 left in the game, the Jets led 20-0. The Dolphins drove 80 yards in eight plays to score a touchdown and prevent the shutout. The Jets defense will and offense will take their frustration from those two games out on the Dolphins this week, and they will complete what the couldn’t in Week 2.
Final Score: New York Jets: 24, Miami Dolphins: 0